CIUS book launch marks release of two monographs (05/18/97)

CIUS book launch marks release of two monographs

EDMONTON - The Peter Jacyk Center for Ukrainian Historical Research at the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies (CIUS) and the Ukrainian Canadian Research and Documentation Center (UCRDC) sponsored a book launch on April 16 in Toronto for new monographs by Zenon Kohut and Ihor Sevcenko.

The launch was opened by Prof. Wasyl Janischewskyj, UCRDC chairman of the board, who conveyed greetings on the opening of a Toronto branch office of the Jacyk Center on the premises of the UCRDC.

Prof. Danylo Husar Struk, associate director of CIUS and head of the Toronto CIUS Publications Office, described the Toronto activities of CIUS, including the Jacyk Center, Dr. Frank Sysyn, director of the Jacyk Center discussed the recent and forthcoming accomplishments of the center's publishing program. The translation of Dr. Kohut's "Russian Centralism and Ukrainian Autonomy" constitutes the second publication in the center's series Ukrainian Historiography in the West. Prof. Sevcenko's "Ukraine between East and West" is the first publication in the center's English-language Monograph Series.

The first volume of the documentary publication "Sources for 17th-Century Ukrainian History in Russian Archives" will appear in Lviv this spring. The first volume of Mykhailo Hrushevsky's "History of Ukraine-Rus': From Prehistory to the 11th Century," will be published in July.

Dr. Kohut shared his observations on the appearance of the Ukrainian version of his work. He asserted that after having been denied access to the Ukrainian and Russian archives in the 1970s, he never dreamed that the book would appear in Ukrainian translation in Ukraine. His monograph, which deals with the ultimately successful efforts of the Russian imperial government to abolish the autonomous institutions of the Hetmanate and the reaction of Ukrainian society, establishes the link between the traditional early modern Ukrainian society of corporate estates and the Ukraine of the early 19th century national revival.

Dr. Sysyn, who was once a student in Prof. Sevcenko's and Prof. Omelian Pritsak's courses in medieval and early modern Ukrainian history at Harvard University, described the genesis of the essays in "Ukraine Between East and West." He maintained that Prof. Sevcenko's essays constitute an authoritative examination of the development of Ukrainian culture and identity amid influences and challenges from Byzantium and the Latin West (mediated through Poland).

He drew particular attention to Prof. Sevcenko's assertion that the roots of the Ukrainian nation are in Kyivan Rus', while those of the Russian nation are in the Vladimir-Suzdal Principality.

Dr. Yaroslav Hrytsak, director of the Institute for Historical Research at Lviv University, described the two books taken together as an illuminating analysis of Ukrainian history by two eminent specialists. He drew particular attention to their explanation of the evolution of Ukrainian society and culture among the contending influences of East and West.

He maintained that the two volumes, like the essays of the late Prof. Ivan Lysiak-Rudnytsky, which have already appeared in the Jacyk Center Series, will have a major impact on the rebirth of historical research in Ukraine, especially since Prof. Sevcenko's book will also appear in Ukrainian translation in the series.

Serhii Borovyk, consul-general of Ukraine in Toronto, presented Mr. Jacyk with an award from President Leonid Kuchma for services to the Ukrainian state, especially in his support of the Hrushevsky Translation Project. Mr. Jacyk responded with thanks and a reaffirmation of his dedication to supporting scholarship on Ukraine.

Then Prof. Maxim Tarnawsky, director of CIUS Press, appealed to the public to support the press. He pointed out that in addition to purchasers of books, the press is seeking sponsors for important projects such as the publication of a concordance of the works of Taras Shevchenko. He also announced pre-publication rates for the first volume of Hrushevsky's history ($50 until June 27) and for the entire 10-volume history ($500 until December 31). The audience responded to these appeals with brisk book-buying and ordering.

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